While credit cards are becoming popular rapidly, there is also a surge in credit card scams. According to the reports, In the last three months of 2019, credit card scams cost 19.7 crores, and the number of fraud cases was 6,117, which is pretty high!

Since online platforms are taking over, knowing and understanding that your information is always at risk is imperative. Especially when you are frequently using that information on different online platforms, there are high chances of them being stolen. There are chances of extreme monetary loss due to these kinds of scams.

Here are seven ways to protect your card information!

1. Do not share your credit card information with anyone

A credit card contains a unique number, the cardholder’s name, the expiry date, and a CVV. This information is required to complete a transaction using the best credit card in India. Do not share these details, especially CVV, with anyone. This is one of the basic yet essential steps of keeping your card safe.

2. Do not click on unauthorised website links or any other suspicious links

Receiving random links on social media sites has become a common occurrence recently. These links are clickbait to lure people into falling for the scammers. Generally, these links have catchy captions that grab attention quickly, and you might click on them out of curiosity. They allow scammers to access your information without your knowledge and commit scams. Also, many random websites ask for debit card or credit card information to access them, and scammers can easily steal your information. Remember not to share any card information on these sites.

3. Do not share any OTP with anyone

A One-Time Password, also known as an OTP, is a secret pin that comes to your registered mobile number after you put the information on any website for the transaction. This pin is required to complete any transaction, so if you received an OTP you have not requested, do not share that with anyone. There are many instances where the scammers ask for OTP over call, do not be gullible and share such information with them. Generally, scammers cannot process any transaction without an OTP.

4. Create Pins that are hard to crack

Do not create pins that are easy to guess. Use at least one capital letter, small letter, number, and special character. Do not use similar pins for all cards. Also, avoid using special dates like birthdays as your pin, which are easy to guess. This will help you to stay safe.

5. Keep changing your PIN frequently

Your pin is the simple and best way to secure your card. ATM PIN is a secret number that only you should know. No one can access your card without that pin, so keep changing your pin at least once a month to stay safe. Keeping the same pin for a long time can risk your privacy.

6. Identify Secured networks before making a payment

One way of identifying a secured network is that the website starts with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP.” This “s” in “HTTPS” signifies security. Also, the URL section will show as locked, and a little locked sign will appear at the beginning of the URL. This is one of the most common ways to identify a secured website.

Watch carefully before using your credit card on random websites. These websites are encrypted, so the data you enter remains protected through encryption and is hard to crack. Hackers can get your data for any monetary scam if the website is not encrypted.

7. Regularly check bank statements and update immediately in case of any dispute

Generally, we tend to ignore the statements sent by the banks. However, they are essential since they contain every little transaction detail. Check the bank statements carefully to notice if there is any suspicious transaction that happened that you are not aware of. The scammers can be clever, and these statements would be the best way to understand whether your credit card data is being used fraudulently.

In case of any dispute, contact the authorities immediately. Do not delay if you notice any discrepancy in your expenditure statement. Banks tend to help in such cases and reverse the payment.

Credit cards are convenient and easy for online transactions, and you must apply for the best credit cards in India as they would provide better support. However, stay alert and keep yourself updated about the scams.

You can easily avoid these by being slightly more careful.

No matter where you are or what work you do, there are times when emergency situations arise without any prior warning.

Maybe your coworker gets grievously injured while operating a machine or your family member gets ill suddenly. In these situations, having a good knowledge of how to handle emergencies can be useful.

In the US alone, the CDC has around 130 million emergency visits in houses. But what do you do while you wait for the authorities to arrive? Here are some ways to deal with emergency situations calmly and wisely.

1. Stay calm

Before you begin to do anything, it’s very important to remain calm. If your mind is frayed and your hands are shaking, things will only get worse. It might be easier said than done but remaining calm and composed is essential.

Panicking often prevents you from making the right decisions, so take a deep breath, pull yourself together with the best you can and then tend to the person concerned.

One way to remain calm in dire situations is to undergo mind-training exercises and meditation. Remember to react fast but without agitating yourself.

2. Grab the first-aid kit

After your mind is composed, the next intelligent step is to grab your nearest first-aid kit. This kit helps to soothe wounds, no matter how serious and provides a bit of relief to the person. Having an experience in first-aid courses can help but even if you don’t have one, a bit of basic knowledge will be enough.

Make sure the first-aid kit has all the necessary items like bandages, ointments, iodine solution, a pair of tweezers, and numbing spray among others. If you can’t get hold of a kit, consider what other items in your vicinity might be good enough.

3. Communicate with the victim

It’s important to communicate with the victim and make sure they don’t lose consciousness, especially when the wound is serious. Keep talking to them and ask them to talk back as much as they can.

This will also help them to divert their minds away from the injury or pain. Keep giving them mental and emotional strength and make them hopeful about their recovery.

Until you wait for the ambulance or healthcare authorities to arrive, ask the victim if they have any special medical conditions that need immediate attention.

4. Don’t use the phone too much

Yes, it’s important to call the authorities as soon as possible but make sure you’re not constantly occupied on the phone.

The present situation at hand needs more attention and if you’re engaged on your phone all the time, it will get distracting. Use your cell phone only to make emergency calls and keep the call duration short.

If you’re not sure whether the situation is truly an emergency or not, call the dispatcher and they will help you figure it out. Stay off the phone unless you absolutely need to make calls and don’t receive unimportant ones.

5. Don’t document evidence baselessly

One of the worst mistakes one can make in an emergency is to click unnecessary selfies and post them on platforms without any reason. Never document any evidence and post them on social media. Not only does it show disrespect and irresponsibility but it can also waste a lot of precious time.

If it’s absolutely necessary, use the phone camera to click pictures and save them in your private gallery, for example in a car accident where you have to take photos of the number plate.

6. Ask for help

It’s obvious that calling 911 or similar emergency services is a must when the accident or injury is beyond simple home remedies. If there are any passersby or someone else, ask them if they can help you out too.

Move the victim to a safe location but make sure you don’t hurt them even more while moving. When you call 911, tell them precisely about the physical appearance of the victim, their approximate age, and any other necessary details. These are key points that shouldn’t be missed.

Over to you…

Emergencies are inevitable and we often can’t understand what to do. In such cases, making wise decisions with a calm mind is the best option. You must never be idle when someone near you needs some medical emergency. Take prompt action and call the concerned helplines so that they can reach as fast as possible and shift them to the nearest hospital or clinic.

Have you ever thought about the importance of workplace safety tips?

We all long for a safe and protected work environment. It gives peace and mental satisfaction to every employee. Hence, it becomes necessary for employers to provide a secure working atmosphere for enhanced performance efficiency.

What Is Workplace Safety?

Workplace safety encompasses all the components that affect the security, wellbeing and health of the workers. Natural hazards, risky surroundings and workplace violence affect employees negatively.

Strategic safety measures not only guarantee the security of employees but of equipment and property as well. It results in fewer mishaps and reduces workers’ compensation costs and repair costs.

When workers have confidence in their management’s dynamic role in assuring their safety, they work rigorously to achieve targets.

What Are the General Safety Rules?

Safety rules are not something that the staff members need to think about and devise. Supervisors are responsible for formulating rules and implementing strict adherence to them.

If everyone follows the rules, it will ensure a safe workplace.

Here are the general safety rules to enforce in every domain at all locations.

• Immediately inform all workplace injuries and ailments.
• Inform all dangerous acts and hazardous situations to your department head.
• Make sure to use seat belts while traveling in the company or personal vehicles.
• Guns, knives, or other explosives should not be permitted.
• Illegal drugs, or being under its influence should be banned.
• Only trained apprentices should deal with repair issues.
• Tag out processes must be followed.
• Only authorized staff members deal with the use of chemicals.
• Safety data sheets must be filled and maintained.
• Cleanliness is key to good health. Keep the work area and surroundings clean.
• Smoking areas should be designated. Allow smoking only in assigned territory.
• Emergency exits and equipment must not be blocked.
• Protective gears and suggested personal protection apparatus must be used whenever needed. You are responsible for your security. In case of dealing with fire, electricity, or working at height, wear head protection, gloves and foot protection, etc.
• Take short breaks to avoid monotony.
• Follow safety signs, instructions and directions.

It is essential to acknowledge and follow these rules to experience safe and healthy professional life. If you obey rules, you need not protect yourself with weapons.

20 Workplace Safety Tips to Share with Your Employees

I always consider my staff members as my extended family and put my best foot forward to educate them about basic safety tips. It is vital to stay healthy and protected to perform best. Workers are more valuable than work. Workplace safety is a team effort.

Without further ado, let’s discuss 20 tips to share with workers to make your office safe.

1. Educate every employee

From the company’s CEO to guard, everyone must understand the significance of workplace safety. Higher management is responsible for the quick identification of risks that employees may face on the job.

Identification of hazards is necessary to mitigate risks. Arrange a training program for staff to make them aware of the dangers and the precautions to avoid illness and fatal injuries.

2. Reduce workplace anxiety

A friendly boss always cares for his team members as his children. He is their confidence booster and tries to give them a stress-free environment.

Appreciate them for their good work. Give them a break from long working hours. Create a conflict-free atmosphere and give the staff a bonus for their proactive participation to exceed profitability targets.

3. Make your work area organized and clutter-free

Staying organized makes us focus on tasks and expedites productivity. Scattered objects are just a reason for stress. Keep your table clean to avoid distractions and mistakes.

Use a planner. Set your priorities. Put things at their designated place and you will feel the difference yourself.

4. Be mindful of your surroundings

Each work location has its inherent threats, including heavy machinery, conveyor belts, stumbling over things, or cunning people around. Beware of your neighborhood to deal with things appropriately.

Knowing the potential dangers will assist you and your colleagues in maintaining a distance from dangerous situations.

5. Lift with your legs, not your back

We have heard this saying many times in our life. It advises keeping a good posture. At your desk, maintain a straight sitting posture to avoid back issues, neck pain or carpal tunnel.

If you have to lift anything heavy, give yourself a few seconds to think of mechanical aid to assist you or call any colleague or subordinate to help in lifting.

6. Avoid shortcuts

Set high standards for yourself. Do not look for shortcuts. Shortcuts may lead to violations of safety policies and rules.

Work as per instructions and set precautions. Alternate routes are not longlasting. They can expose you to injuries. Make sure you are going the right way and utilizing the right tools for assigned tasks.

7. Keep yourself updated with new safety procedures

If your organization is installing some new machinery or arranging a training program, make sure to attend it to understand the changes.

It is your responsibility to comprehend new changes and processes to keep yourself at bay from potential risks.

8. Stay fresh and alert

Take regular breaks to keep your spirits up and avoid fatigue. Prolonged working hours may make you prone to injuries or illness; hence it is vital to keep yourself fresh.

Plan your work in a way that all difficult tasks are done at the beginning of your shift.

9. Service your machinery and tools regularly

Overhauling of instruments and apparatus must not be done when they breakdown. Regular servicing reduces risks of sudden failures and keeps the workplace safe.

It maintains high-quality functionality and minimizes fluctuations.

10. Report uncertain conditions

The best solution to halt unsafe situations from occurring is to inform the higher authorities quickly. Your manager is committed to provide a secure surrounding to every worker and to take steps to avoid future problems. This doesn’t have to just be inside the premises either; should you notice that the outside area is perhaps at risk of becoming unsafe due to ice or snow, you should inform them of this so that they can then take necessary measures, and perhaps even get something like one of these snow clearing ploughs, in order to prevent any accidents from occuring.

11. Wear  personal protective equipment

PPE reduces risks if worn properly. Gloves, helmet, earplugs, goggles, etc decrease the risk of physical injuries. Employees need to give proper training about the selection, maintenance and use of PPE to assure its effectiveness.

12. Stay hydrated

I drink a lot of water and encourage my colleagues to do the same. Dehydration is dangerous for cognitive abilities. It slows down your thinking process.

Take water or fresh juices in between work intervals to energize yourself.

13. Execute emergency procedures

Unfortunately, tragedies do not report their arrival. We have to be well-prepared to deal with every type of emergencies to guarantee safety not only for ourselves but also for our business, colleagues and visitors.

Identify natural disasters and potential risks beforehand to better deal with them. Devise an emergency management plan and train yourself accordingly.

14. Stay sober and know your rights

Avoid alcohol and other drugs to keep yourself sane and avoid fatalities.

Know your rights that your employer is entitled to provide you for your security. Keep track of your insurance plan. Seek guidance from peers in case of any ambiguity.

15. Share your concerns

If you have any doubts, share them. Discuss your concerns with your HR manager. He is obliged to alleviate all the reasons for stress or anxiety to put you at ease.

16. Avoid doing repetitive tasks

Repetition is strenuous for the mind and body. It is, in fact, more dangerous than we generally perceive. It makes us uncomfortable in many ways.

Doing the same task, again and again, sometimes makes us feel less creative. It is a blow to a task-focused individual when he feels bored with his work. It can also cause occupational overuse syndrome (OOS).

17. Keep emergency exits clear

Blocking your emergency exits is just a foolish act. Keep your crisis exits free from any kind of obstructions. It is the matter of your safety and also of those around you.

Ensure to give clear access to these life-saving doors in the time of emergency.

18. First aid training

First aid is the immediate help you can give to yourself or those who need it near you. Always keep your first aid box filled with necessary things like gauze rolls, safety pins, pain killers and ointment.

It is advisable to take proper first aid training to deal with emergencies.

19. Read warning signs

It is pivotal to read all warning signs and understand their meaning. Take them seriously and do not overlook them.

Make sure that you know all the potential dangers ahead by deciphering the meaning of signs in front of you.

20. Keep your communication channels open

Take time to connect with people. Develop impeccable relationships with them. Communication is the key to establish long term associations. Connections are very crucial for workplace effectiveness.

Stay engaged and schedule a time for face to face meetings for better interaction.

What to Do When Your Employee Is Injured At Work?

Formulate plans to deal with a sudden employee injury. Train yourself and other efficient workers to give an immediate response to the crisis while accurately assessing the situation.

You can deal with minor cuts, scrapes and bruises with basic first aid kit. Seek medical assistance in case of serious injuries.

Follow these tips to face employee injury immediately.

• Be prepared and plan medical care
• Thoroughly investigate the incident
• Stay informed and check your policies
• Take precautions for other workers

Bottom Line

Workplace safety benefits both the employers and employees. It reduces employees’ stress and makes them work harder. They know that their boss is looking after their health and it is payback time by giving their best.

Employees’ performance improves when they know how to escape injuries and have confidence in management’s ability to protect their staff.